Row breaks out over Miss England as £7,000 of public money is spent on beauty queens stripping off in Torquay

Bikini-clad Miss England contestants arriving in Devon have become the centre of a widespread debate about whether the competition has a place in modern society.

Torbay Council Labour leader Darren Cowell wasn't too happy the event was being held in Torquay.

He said: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but it's strange you get the stereotypical size 8 and 10 women who enter these competitions.

"I come across many, many women who aren't that stereotypical model image who offer and contribute a huge amount to charity and community who would never dream of being able to enter into such competition.